Philippines-Alexandria Luz Enriquez struck gold for the Philippines in the jiu-jitsu women’s ne-waza 63kg division of the 2026 Asian Beach Games, scoring a dominant 5-0 victory over Yeonni Lee of South Korea.
Her triumph handed the Philippine delegation its first gold medal of the Sanya Games.
‘I feel so much pride and joy. I was born in the Philippines. We immigrated to the States when I was a very young child-six years old-and to be able to come back and experience it as an adult and be a part of something much larger than I am is such a great honor,’ Enriquez said.
Enriquez controlled the final with technical precision, capping a strong run through her bracket against a tough field. She then won via advantage in the semifinal against Shamma Alkalbani to nab her spot in the gold medal match.
The gold also marked the country’s sixth all-time gold medal in Asian Beach Games history.
The victory came after Kaila Napolis earlier secured a bronze, boosting the Philippines’ campaign in the jiu-jitsu competitions.
‘Alexandria showed the heart of a true Filipino warrior today. To win gold here in Sanya, against the best in the continent, sets a high standard for our hosting in 2028. This is a proud moment for the entire nation,’ said chef de mission Don Z. Caringal.
With the jiu-jitsu events still ongoing, the Philippines looks to add more medals as it continues its campaign in Sanya.